unified communications - News, Features, and Slideshows

News

• How a hail storm spurred Makita's IT transformation

  After a massive loss of IT systems during a hail storm, power tools retailer Makita learnt to pick itself up and achieve greater flexibility, standardisation and cost savings.

• In Pictures: 15 screen-sharing apps for easy collaboration

  Need to hold a virtual meeting complete with screen sharing? Or maybe you just need to remotely access a colleague’s computer to help him with a quick fix. Here are 15 ways to get the job done -- for free.

• Zoos enhance efficiency, patron experience with Skype

  Zoos South Australia has enhanced operational efficiency, animal care and customer experience with new video-based collaboration tools.
  

• ATO renews voice and data contract with Optus

  The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has chosen to extend its managed services contract with Optus Business until June 2018.
  

• Unify adds connectors, features, Android app to its unified comms service Circuit

  When Unify invited visitors at last year's Cebit to test a new unified communications service, Project Ansible, it was nothing but a tightly scripted demo.

• Mitel drops ShoreTel bid

  Customers of ShoreTel phones and unified communications gear can stop worrying that their lives might get complicated by a merger between the company and its rival Mitel.

• Mitel takes aim at Avaya with ShoreTel bid

  Anyone thinking about signing a deal with ShoreTel for unified communications gear might want to take a closer look now that Mitel has made public its hopes to buy the company.

• IRESS fights Allen Curve, 'shotgun emails' with unified desktop

  Australian software company IRESS hopes a unified desktop can bring global staff closer and make them more productive, according to chief operating officer, Steve Barnes.

• Flexible working requires right tools: Blue Jeans Network

  Many companies are aspiring to - and attempting - the flexible working approach, but Blue Jeans Network has seen few master it.

• Hardcoded SSH key gives backdoor access to Cisco communications manager

  An unprotected SSH access key left inside the Cisco Unified Communications Domain Manager product for remote support purposes allows attackers to take complete control of affected deployments.

• Blue Jeans introduces online forum for industry collaboration, customer advocacy

  Blue Jeans Network, a video collaboration service provider, has introduced an online platform that gives people direct access to one another as well as to engineers, product developers, and company executives. The community is designed to give customers and the larger industry a forum to propose new product ideas, share feedback, and request support.

• FCC broadband report offers fodder for net neutrality discussions

  A recent FCC study may have taken some wind out of the sails for those who suggest that ISPs are not living up to performance promises. In its fourth such annual report, "Measuring Broadband America-2014," the FCC has found that, on average, ISPs now provide 101% of advertised download speeds.

• Siemens' Unify to cut staff in half

  Unify, a joint venture between Siemens and the Gores Group, will cut 50 per cent of its staff and refocus its product roster away from hardware, following a shift in the overall unified communications market toward software and Cloud services.

• IDC: Cloud, software options deflate sales of enterprise video systems

  Sales of video conferencing and telepresence hardware systems are declining, hurt by an increase in cloud and software-based options that often are cheaper and simpler to deploy, according to an IDC study.

• Cisco puts video conferencing spotlight on individuals with new desktop, cloud products

  Cisco will target individual video conferencing users with new desktop devices and a cloud-based service, a move that complements a recent announcement focused on outfitting small and mid-size office meeting rooms.